Focus on mental health
The pandemic has forced people to think not only about how to avoid getting infected
The founder and CEO of bioniq Vadim Fedotov is confident thatthe focus on mental health is one of the leading WellTech trends today: “Its importance became especially evident during the pandemic. This direction is actively developing in a technological sense - for example, now there are various applications for meditation, easy falling asleep and stress relief, as well as services for remote consultations and the selection of psychotherapists. "
One of the very first startups in this direction- Neurobotics: headsets that are worn on the head, read brain signals and transmit data on the level of stress, attention to the smartphone. The device helps to relax, meditate. However, the high price and dimensions do not allow it to be used in large quantities.
A more convenient option is a smartphone appWelltory, which measures the amplitude of the heart rate and, based on this, gives out data on stress and productivity. With the help of the service, you can build a work and rest schedule, select physical activity. And for mastering meditation and self-relaxation, there is the Headspace application, which people began to use 19 times more often during the pandemic, according to analysts at Vinci Research.
For those who want to get enough sleep,there is Ecosleep - a small gadget in the form of a cube acts with electromagnetic pulses at frequencies of 1–40 Hz on the brain and nervous system, forcing it to relax. The device controls the phases of sleep, and according to the principle of influence it is as close as possible to natural electromagnetic waves, therefore it is absolutely safe. The cube not only improves falling asleep, but also allows you to restore a normal rest schedule, knocked down by hyperactivity, stress or overwork.
Evgeniy Karpov, Product Owner of Tsifra company,believes that the most promising areas of WellTech development are mental health. According to the WHO, depression is the leading cause of disability around the world. The economy is losing huge amounts of money because of this. Therefore, if there is, for example, a service that will help prevent the development of depression among employees, it will have a huge economic effect and will actively develop. "
Doctor in your pocket
Pandemic expectedly stimulated people more oftenconsult a doctor, if not even for an examination, then at least for advice on disturbing symptoms. The demand has grown not only for polyclinics, but also for the services of private centers. In the fall of 2020, the number of Russians' visits to doctors was 5% higher than in the same period of 2019, and the number of requests for consultation and diagnosis together - by 21%. Citizens used paid services in autumn 20% more often than in spring. Moreover, not only pulmonologists and therapists were popular, but also cardiologists, psychiatrists and neurologists.
People are afraid to go to public places, andhospitals are leaders in the list of potentially dangerous locations. As a result, the popularity of telemedicine services and telemedicine is growing. Two WellTech trends stand out here at once: applications for communicating with a doctor directly and gadgets with appropriate software that allow you to monitor vital signs - for example, blood sugar levels for diabetics. The peak of visits to doctors through telemedicine platforms was recorded in April and May. The most in demand were therapists, pediatricians, psychologists, neurologists and dermatologists.
Founder and CEO of bioniq Vadim Fedotovconfirms the importance of remote services: “The telemedicine market in Russia in 2019 reached 1.5 billion rubles and continues to grow. Amid the pandemic and quarantine, the number of online medical consultations has doubled compared to 2018. Modern technologies allow patients, even from a distance, to get access to quality medical care. For example, the Medsi network of private clinics has developed the SmartMed application, in which Medsi and bioniq clients can have an online consultation with a specialized specialist. "
The app can take care of your healthQapsula: this is a software that provides free consultations of doctors in the built-in messenger, as well as is able to remind about planned diagnostics (tests), medications, food intake, and control the diet. All this is done by a chat bot. If necessary, he can even pick up a clinic or pharmacy nearby, find a laboratory. Currently, there are 3 thousand doctors in 85 specializations on the platform. The support system is available not only from a smartphone, but also from a computer through the website.
Another multifunctional development -Onetrack: a platform that allows you to combine all WellTech and MedTech gadgets into a single ecosystem. Data from a smart scale, fitness bracelet, tonometer goes to the cloud server and can be used in an application on a smartphone or computer (via the website). Access to them can be given to a doctor, family member. The startup also offers solutions for corporate health - this is one of the trends that also became a consequence of the pandemic.
Evgeny Karpov, Product Owner of Tsifra:“We see great potential in solutions for the corporate market. We in the company have already come close to WellTech solutions for the industry and are starting to monitor some indicators of the condition of people. So, we already know how to assess the level of driver fatigue, prevent overworking and the risk of accidents due to fatigue. Probably, over time, we will be able to assess the level of stress of employees and prevent situations that cause nervous tension. "
Health control by any means
Wearable gadgets (smartwatches, fitness bracelets andothers) no longer surprise anyone, but they do not lose their positions among the main WellTech trends. In the midst of the pandemic, the smartwatch market beat all records, although the global economy was rapidly falling: more than 230 thousand copies were sold in the first quarter of 2020. Because people wanted to monitor their health. Apple Watch still remains the leader, taking 55% of the market, the second place is occupied by Samsung Watch (13.9%). Garmin closes the top three. By the end of 2023, the market for smart wearable devices may reach 279 million units.
However, watches and bracelets are not the only onea way to track health every minute: smart rings have appeared on the market, which also allow you to monitor physical activity. Due to the small area of the gadget, it is almost impossible to place a screen on it, so it works in conjunction with a smartphone, where data is displayed. With the help of sensors, the rings track steps, pulse, and blood pressure. Moreover, such devices can look very presentable and “traditional”. The American Motiv Ring looks like an ordinary jewelry ring, it can control sleep, recognize workouts, and calculate calorie consumption.
For athletes, there are headphones that measurepulse while walking or running - Jabra Pulse. In addition, they assess oxygen uptake and based on this, they monitor the body's endurance level. An even more concise option: the Misfit Shine is a fitness button or disc that can be worn on the arm as a bracelet, around the neck as a pendant, attached to the belt of trousers, and come up with many more ways. The tracker tracks sleep phases, measures activity in water (waterproof), measures steps and works up to six months on battery power.
Ashish Vijay, CEO of Jewelryof Tiara by Ashish Vijay (Dubai): “We can confidently assert by indirect evidence that various elements of WellTech are gaining popularity in almost all countries in which we operate. These are the UAE, Russia, India, China and others. We have orders for fitness trackers and other devices made of gold with diamonds and other precious stones. As a jewelry company, we are happy to work on these ideas, because we believe that this will allow WellTech to further actively develop as an industry that plays a very important role in such a difficult time. In our opinion, wearable devices will also fulfill not only their direct role (to monitor health), but also become more interesting in terms of appearance. "
Bioniq founder and CEO Vadim Fedotov believesthat health monitoring with smart sensors continues to gain popularity. “At the same time, the format of the sensors is changing: smart stickers appear that are attached to the skin and monitor health indicators. The next possible step is subcutaneous implants, which can both collect important biological parameters and store the necessary medical information about the state of the human body, ”says Fedotov.
Deep study of the body
WellTech is increasingly connecting with MedTech:smartphones can already receive data from blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters, glucometers and other medical devices, analyze them and use them to automatically display recommendations on lifestyle, exercise, and nutrition. In-depth DNA research can be a new way to get even more personalized advice. The study of genetic material helps to provide the most complete information about the state of the body: for example, you can determine the intolerance of specific foods, a list of allergens, a predisposition to certain diseases.
Market size of genetic tests annuallyincreases by 15–20%, by 2030 its turnover may reach $ 6 billion. It is possible that this will benefit WellTech solutions. Today, there are already startups that offer, on the basis of a DNA test, to assess the risk of developing diseases, make a diet, and select physical activity. MyGenetics is able to do this: the client is brought everything necessary for the test, and the results, along with recommendations, he receives in a month. Now people do it, but over time, the processes can go to machines.
Another WellTech startup, Otri, knows how to composea nutrition program based on biochemical blood tests. In this case, you can take both the classic and the extended version - with a large set of markers. However, while the startup works only in Moscow and Moscow region. The conclusion is made by the doctor, but the selections are initially carried out by the neural network. In addition to the test results, data on a person's physical activity are also taken into account.
Experts also note:in addition to blood tests and DNA studies, diagnostics of intestinal microflora is of interest: “The focus on the importance of the intestinal microbiome has increased. Gut bacteria are very important as they produce vitamins and many other health-promoting substances, participate in the digestion of food, and indirectly affect mental health. People are increasingly testing their gut microbiome to assess its health and diversity. Against the background of frequent antibiotic treatment, suboptimal nutrition and stress, it becomes more and more important to monitor the functionality of the microbial community inside the body, ”says Vadim Fedotov, founder and CEO of bioniq.
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